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DA Newsletter News Releases Opinion Editorials


	DA Newsletter Press Releases Opinion Editorials

For Immediate Release
April 22, 2009
Contact: Ryan Hightower, PIO, (951) 955-8526
(print version)

DISTRICT ATTORNEY ROD PACHECO HONORED BY VICTIMS GROUP

MURRIETA, CA, Wednesday, April 22, 2009: District Attorney Rod Pacheco has been selected by the victims group Justice for Homicide Victims as their recipient of the 2009 Ellen Griffin Dunne Victim Advocate Award.

"I'm honored to be recognized by such an important victims group," District Attorney Rod Pacheco said. "It is important that people work together to ensure the rights of victims."

"We think Rod Pacheco is one of the most outstanding district attorneys we have in California. He is always very concerned with the problems of crime victims. He produced a most comprehensive, beautiful brochure that they give to every violent crime victim or surviving family member so they know what their rights are," Marcella Leach, Executive Director of Justice for Homicide Victims, said of Pacheco receiving the award. "He realizes that when someone's child is murdered the loved ones are victims too."

Pacheco has been recognized as a leader in the field of victims' rights through his office's Victims' Rights Project, a coordinated program dedicated to ensuring that victims and their families are afforded all rights guaranteed by law.

Pacheco also hosts an annual Victims' Rights March in honor of Victims' Rights Week. The march has grown in size and scope each year since its inception. The Victims' Rights March had more than 4,000 people in attendance last year and welcomed attendees from throughout California and the nation. This year's march will feature guest speakers Marcella Leach; Mike Reynolds, co-creator of the California Three Strikes law; Collene Campbell former President of Parents of Murdered Children and former Mayor of San Juan Capistrano; and United States Attorney Thomas O'Brien.

The award is named after Ellen Griffin Dunne, founder of Justice for Homicide Victims. Her leadership following the death of her daughter Dominique has led to many breakthroughs in the cause for victims' rights. The award is being presented to Pacheco on Sunday, April 26th, at a ceremony held by Justice for Homicide Victims.

For more information on the Victims' Rights March or Victims' Rights Week, please visit www.rivcoda.org/VS/rightsweek.html